Dagtrip to London with DSS12

[Stepmum72]

Hi,

I'm going to take my stepson to London for a day trip (arriving about 9am, leaving about 6.30pm by train). He really wants to see London Bridge and go on the London Eye. He's not British (or a city kid) and this will be his first time in England so is keen to see and try things that are new: fish & chips, M&M store, Chinatown, street art, try Boost (Hydration only, he's not allowed the energy drip obviously)...

The trip isnt until the start of June but I'm trying to plan ahead so he gets the most from it. (He's so excited to go!)

Two questions:

• Any advice or recommendations on what a 12 year old boy might really enjoy on his first trip to London?
• His parents are excited for him but any tips on what I can do to make them as happy/comfortable etc as possible for them? (It'll be the first time any of their 3 kids have been away without one of them there and I especially don't want his mum to worry even though we have a great relationship I think she could get stressed on the day.)

I doubt he wants to see London Bridge - it's a boring 1960s built concrete thing. Presuming you mean Tower Bridge? Do check before travelling to the wrong place.

Chinatown fine if you want to eat, there are loads of tiny hood places where you can buy a bao bun or similar and don't have to sit down (but my two love the Golden Phoenix for some reason); m&m store is bloody awful but maybe 12 yr old boys like that? My 12 Yr old DD wouldn't. Steer clear from Leicester Square and Oxford St IMO. Covent Garden much better and a short walk from Chinatown.

Walk along the south bank maybe to see the river and some sights then cross over the Millennium bridge to St Paul's Cathedral?

What about heading out to Greenwich?
Or go up to the top of the Shard.
Would he enjoy Hampton Court maze? Or a boat trip on the Thames? You can go over that river in a cable car down by the O2, and for that matter, you can walk right over the top of the O2 too.
If he likes football, how about a tour or Wembley?

For fish and chips try Poppies - think there is one on Old Compton St so central.

Don't try and pack too much in. There's lots of walking and it will be busy is my best tip!

If you want to do the eye book it as queues can be really long. He may like the rib speed boat on the Thames?

My 11yo loves m&m store but you need a second mortgage to buy them.

The Lego store could be good.

I think there is that tunnel with graffiti near London eye.

You could then maybe do borough market for food.

*I think there is that tunnel with graffiti near London eye.

You could then maybe do borough market for food.*

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Leeke Street graffiti tunnels near Waterloo station. My teenagers love them. Same for Borough Market and it's nice to wander along the river after.

Yes definitely book the Eye.

I wouldn't be traipsing up to Wembley if you're in London for 8 or so hours. Also Greenwich is great - loads to see and do but a squeeze time wise.

There are also a few Banksy's but not really worth the deviation for.

Breakfast up Aqua Shard is also fun but not sure it's open every day now. Or get (free) tickets to go up to the roof at Fenchurch Street gardens.

In terms of reassuring his parents, I would make sure:

• he has location tracking turned on on his phone (you might even want to give him an Apple air tag as they seem to work whilst underground)
• you and he have rehearsed what to do if you get separated on the Tube.

This was what I was always worried about with ds, so I drilled it into him: if he somehow got on the train and I didn't, he was to get off at the next platform and wait for me there. If I somehow got on the train and he didn't, he was to wait on the platform and I would come straight back for him.

Obviously I never actually needed to use this, but it was good to have a plan.

Make sure you keep mum and dad updated during the day.

In terms of things to do, a boat is a good way to see a few sights - either a scheduled service on Thames Clipper or one of our favourites (not cheap) is the Thames RIB.

Indeed, I mean Tower Bridge not London Bridge and wouldn't accidentally end up at the wrong one so no harm there. He picked it out as something he wanted to do. Same as M&M store (he's been saving spending money but I don't get the appeal of going there at all) and Chinatown (to see it more than to eat there, he's never seen any Chinatown).

His mum would be upset if I brought him to a church or Cathedral (and I don't think he'd have the interest anyway... his mum had a tough time with religious upbringing and while I'm religious I don't want to overstep) but Millennium Bridge could be a good one. Thanks!

I'll check out Golden Phoenix (I've been to Lotus Garden and found it pretty magical for a kid too) but thanks for the tip! Same with Covent Garden- I prefer it too but great to have your perspective!

So many great suggestions! I'm going to ignore the football one 🙈(I have no interest and DSS isn't super into it beyond the world cup). I'll look into all the other suggestions though! Sounds great! Thank you!

Thank you for the kind words and recommendation!

I really don't get the whole M&Ms thing! Why does yours like it? I'd never heard of it until I did a little plan for DSS and he added M&M Store to the list ('if possible'). It seems like a marketing gimic that's somehow done well??

I have the graphitti tunnel on the list (especially as it's near enough to London Eye). It seems to be safe and have cool stuff but glad that someone's recommending because I was a little worried.

I've never been to Borough Market! That could be really fun for something to eat. I'll check it out.

Lego Store is a great suggestion his cousin works there (not London though) so I'm going to skip it because he's gone enough times.

Thank you!

Thank you so much! Good to know the graphitti spots are also considered cool by the teenagers (who knows what hormones will kick in and make him decide the whole thing is boring suddenly 😅)

Thanks. Will keep it in mind about Greenwich. I though it might be a bit far.

Is the Fenchchurch Roof Garden thing worth it? I couldn't understand what made it really special..?

Thanks for the insight about the Banksys!

Thanks! This is a really good tip! I'll make sure we come up with a plan for the tube and I was considering doing the airtag thing (my fear was he'd be in the loo for ages and I'd not not if he was still there or had wandered off 😅) but really good idea generally. I feel less silly now there's a really proper reason to do it.

For the RIB it's certainly not cheap but it's not as bad as I was expecting. I'll think about it but he'd remember it forever I suspect!

The Sky Garden (20 Fenchurch Street) is brilliant. It's got fantastic views over London without the price tag of the Shard. As you're doing the Eye it might be overkill to do the Sky Garden as well, but it is really amazing.

If it's a convenient excuse for you to swerve it, there's often queues to get into the M&M store.

If you get lunch from the carts in Borough Market and the picnic area is full, you can also wander over to the adjoining streets and Southwark Cathedral and there's plenty of walls to sit on. I have mixed feelings on China Town, it's a bit touristy and I'm not sure the food is that great at times.

Fenchurch Street Gardens is more for the view than the gardens themselves. Mind you, it's not mega high like the Shard.

If you start from Waterloo, there's a small skateboard park on the South Bank that my kids sometimes like to watch. Although it can be quite boring.

We were in London for a couple of days recently with a 13 and 7 year old and we enjoyed the Sky Garden. More about the views than the garden, but nicely done, free and near Tower of London. Book a few week in advance if you are thinking of doing that. I probably wouldn't do that and the eye though.
Leicester Square went down well with my 2 for the Lego store (they weren't interested in m&ms, but they are opposite each other if you do want that) and at the moment there are some British film statues to spot - Paddington, Harry Potter, Batman etc

London Bridge is just a concrete bridge. Do you mean Tower bridge? There's an experience thing there.
London eye is a good call and very close to the Sea life aquarium which is good but expensive.
London dungeons on Tooley st London bridge. He might enjoy walking along the southbank where's there are skateboarders and street entertainers and Tate museum.
Maybe suggest the science museum and natural history museum ( they are close together) as he might enjoy those. Mine did but grew out of them by 12, but mine visited often.

I wouldn’t bother with China Town as many cities have a version. I would concentrate on the iconic London sights - which he will he familiar with from TV - Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, Downing St, Whitehall Trafalgar Sq, The Mall and Buckingham Palace are all on an easy and relatively short walking loop.

Def try to get on the river (quick river boat to go under the bridges - build into your route for the day - maybe between Tower Bridge and South Bank) and on the Southbank for the views north and the atmosphere / activities.

Don’t try to do too much otherwise will get exhausted - use buses or the open top bus rather than the tube so still get experience of sights and sounds. Enjoy the parks for a rest.

Why would you go to the m&m store? It's literally just a big, shit shop selling chocolate in one of the grimmest parts of London.

For 1 day trip I’d stay central but definitely consider a boat trip as that’s a great way to see the sights. I assume you mean tower bridge, and it’s good to seee it from the boat. Avoid M&M store like the plague, horrible place. In fact avoid Leicester Square and Oxford street entirely.
There’s also a bus (normal bus) which does a really good loop of the sights but you’d need to google it

That's an adults view....much as I hate it my 11yo loved it.

If you have to endure this maybe have a look at some reviews to find out least busy time - maybe it’s first or last thing in the day?

If you make it the last - you can’t get there 30 mins before closing !!